Related

Attributing the popular idiom "God is in the details" to one particular source is like opening a can of historical worms. So, too, is referencing the phrase as an exact quote. Mies van der Rohe, while appraising work, is thought to have said "the devil is in the detail," but so too is German-born art historian Aby Warburg. And there are those who maintain the oft-used quote was popularized by Gustave Flaubert, French author of Madame Bovary. Whoever uttered the words, and whether appending opinion to good forces or bad, it's a mantra we often reference as we go about the task of bettering the world's neediest abodes.

Take this week's before and after, the fearsomely gloomy lair of Carson and Angie Bowie and their sons Rylan and Rhys. Now sufficiently grown, the boys can be trusted in a new (and much more elegant) world and our client remit was simple: the space should be future-proofed with easy care, clean fresh lines and an uplifting sprit that could be adapted, without major cost, further down the line.

Dining function, we all agreed, was a priority, especially now that Rylan and Rhys are of an age where they'll happily gather en famille, but an element of glamour was also paramount. This in mind, we promised to curate a scheme with connective "detail threads," each of which would inter mesh with other aspects of our plan.

Chatting colour, we soon discovered that our clients love fresh, invigorating décor. Hello, their starting point, brown? We also learned they were keen to reflect their brighter, more animated side. Toying, initially, with red and white as a poppy pairing, we subsequently changed direction, worried that it might date too quickly. Whatever we composed, due to the economic constraints of running a family, would have to last our clients for at least a few years. Sunny yellow and white (one of our own favourite combos) was also quickly dispatched as our paymasters decreed that they hoped for more subdued schematics. Eventually, after protracted discussion, we found some common ground: blue and white. With all parties singing from the same colour chart, we fled the scene and settled at our drawing boards. It was time to conjure up some magic.

Colour scheming

With any project that marries two "lead" tones, it's useful to throw in a third colour to help balance and "set" your scheme. Third tone layering is the domain of many professional decorators, but the strategy is often overlooked by DIYers. As a consequence, resultant work runs the risk of appearing a little one dimensional. Our default mechanism with white, when played against single shades such as blue, is to punctuate via black detailing and, throughout subsequent paragraphs, we'll explain how we peppered our plan with these restrained darker notes.

Kitchen breakthrough

We lessened the narrow feel of the dining nook by widening the aperture that connects it to the kitchen; doing this created better flow between both zones. As with any building work, it's important to consider the structural integrity of all areas. This wall wasn't load bearing, which meant work was relatively easy; we simply removed some drywall and inserted a longer support beam above the opening. Never be tempted to cut corners; an ill-conceived manoeuvre will, at best, come back to haunt you (when sagging or cracking appears) and at worst, could result in the collapse of a ceiling. Always consider building code and always seek planning approval for structural alterations. You know it makes sense.

Flooring

Years of sanding and resurfacing had taken their toll on the existing boards and, much as we might have created passable results with several coats of lacquer, we opted, instead, to start from scratch. Due to the rough and tumble of family life, we specified Karndean, a pliable wood effect product made from recycled PVC and plasticizers. It goes down in strip form and will, with care, last for decades. Reworking everything to a high standard is unbelievably important for us; we're seldom of a quick fix demeanour, preferring instead to lavish our clients with durable product that leaves our design flag sailing at full mast.

Walls

Oh please; textured wall coverings? So NOT us. The existing surfaces had a rough finish, although we never found out how the bumpy effect was achieved. It might have been birthed using textured paint, or it may have been the result of applying latex over unprepared walls; either way it had to go. Our quest for perfection is known to everyone with whom we work; we've built a reputation as detail freaks and it's a crown we wear with pride. With the grainy brown detritus suitably abraded (and skimmed with plaster, where necessary) we applied white latex to all surfaces before turning our attentions to the wall that connects on to the kitchen. Our colour choice, a dreamy mid-tone blue, adds decorative warmth and serves as the perfect kickoff for subsequent layering.

Shelving

Ikea floating shelves are by now a decorating staple, although when we use them we like to work them extra hard and with imagination. This unusual configuration was achieved by hanging four shelves (horizontally, as normal) and then cutting a fifth into five equal sections which we glued and then inserted on a vertical plane. Painting the "boxes" at the left hand side using our accent tone creates a designer look of which we're fiercely proud. Again, there's the detail.

Table and chairs

Space being tight, it made sense to specify a round table rather than a square or rectangular option and, although we dressed the project for four, further diners can be accommodated using fold-down chairs stashed in a nearby closet. The veneer finish of the table and chair legs suffuse our vision with extra black "trigger" detailing, while machine washable chair covers reference the pristine white walls. To add an extra layer of design we created simple hemmed runners using a graphic Floridian fabric and these, too, can be slung in the wash when required.

Rug and accessories

Sourced from roll stock and chosen to match our wall colour, we repeated the circular motif of the dining table. Standard tape edging on a curved perimeter is a little tricky, so instead, we had it "whipped and bound" in thick ebony cord. To work our "connective" punctuation even further, we adorned the scheme with an ebony framed mirror, black storage boxes (arranged artfully on our quirky shelving) and complimentary cushion fabrics with a dramatic trellis pattern.

So there you have it. Detail. Carson and Angie are happy. We're happy. Hey, even the room feels happy courtesy of a host of subtle detailing that proffers decorative heartbeat. Never scrimp on this "layering" aspect; played properly, the Big D will always come up trumps. Whether God-given or devil-driven, detail is critically important. Herrs Warburg and van der Rohe, not to mention Monsieur Flavet, would be SO proud!

Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan are the hosts of HGTV’s Colin & Justin’s Home Heist (weekdays at 6 a.m.) and the authors of Colin & Justin’s Home Heist Style Guide, published by Penguin Group (Canada). Follow them on Twitter

Comments

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.

Almost Done!

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.